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EDITORIAL COMMENTARY
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Don't they care about our future...OUR CHILDREN?
Some young men were setting on the tailgates of their pickup trucks in a vacant lot at the intersection of the two busiest streets in the area. These young men did this regularly because there was no place else to go and nothing else to do. On this fateful evening a vehicle that had several young men in it pulled up to the stop sign at this intersection. The young men in the vehicle were not from this neighborhood. They were strangers to the young men in the vacant lot.
I was told that loud comments came from the vehicle at the stop sign. It seems that the comments were directed at the young men in the vacant lot. It got pretty loud and the vehicle at the stop sign raced away. This was exciting. The chase was on. Two of the young men in the vacant lot got into a vehicle and went after the other vehicle.
I never believed that the young men from the vacant lot intended to catch the other vehicle, and even if they did it only amounted to the excitement of the chase. They did not intend to hurt anyone and certainly didn't intend to get hurt.
However, the vehicle from the vacant lot overtook the other vehicle and passed it. Maybe more insults were exchanged. Maybe a few gestures that might have seemed disrespectful were also exchanged. The one thing I know for sure is that as the first vehicle mentioned overtook the vehicle with the young men from the vacant lot, a pistol was pointed from the passenger window, and a few minutes later the driver of the vehicle from the vacant lot was dead.
Some are saying, "I'm glad I live in Montgomery." "That's why I moved here, to get away from things like that." "Something like that could never happen here." Well, that's exactly where it happened. The vacant lot of which I write is on the northeast corner of State Highway 105 and State Highway 149. A pretty white board fence was built around that lot and a pretty decorated tree sets in the middle of it every Christmas. It is hard to believe that this piece of property was once the favorite hangout or meeting place for the young men of the Montgomery area, but it was.
I knew most of the young men that hung out on that corner. There were really good kids from really good families. Some have gone on to become very successful businessmen. One might even be the editor of a successful newspaper. Maybe one or two didn't make it to manhood. I can't help but wonder that if perhaps those young men that hung out on that corner had had somewhere to go and something to do, would they all have made it. Perhaps.
I don't attend the "Cowboy Fellowship". I don't know exactly what they believe or teach. However, I do know and understand that if they are providing a place in this community for our youth to have a place to go and something they can do, besides "hanging out" in a parking lot drinking beer or doing other drugs, then I'm all for it. I really don't fault the person who is complaining about the noise and the lights from the roping arena in question. He may never have seen the brightness of a muzzle flash or heard the report of a pistol pointed at him, that's bright and loud. I personally think he is only seeking notoriety. What bothers me is the people who are giving it to him.
I know that the people of Montgomery attempt to elect those people to their council who will respond to the needs of their city. I know that a big part of that need is the safety and well being of their children. It is hard for me to believe that influential leadership would say to our children, it is OK for you to do something till 10:00 PM and after that we don't care what happens to you. I knew the father of one of the council members. I truly believe that if he had been sitting in his son's seat he would have laughed the complainer out of the chambers. I also know that one of the council members solicited and received the prayers and support of the community when he had a crisis. There is also a council member that I know who wanted the most for his son because I was his son's Scout Leader. What is happening to us when we let ourselves be misled by people who care so little about our future...OUR CHILDREN.
I know that "Letters to the Editor" usually cause bad feelings between those who write them. I hesitated to respond to this matter. However, I know of no other medium that will allow me to voice my support for the kids in our community. I have spent a lifetime working with the youth. I have been a youth football coach, baseball coach, scout leader, Sunday school teacher, and I taught a drug prevention class in the fifth grade classroom (DARE) in all the public schools in west Montgomery County for six years. I don't think it can be said of me that I don't care about our children, yours and mine. With all of that said I ask you to please help keep the lights on at the roping arena at the Cowboy Fellowship in Montgomery, Texas.
Thank you,
Jim Hawkins, Montgomery
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